Welling Ridge Trails good place for spring break

Mar. 20—Spring break and good weather are enticing hikers to Welling Ridge Trails, and the Tahlequah Trails Association has plans for new paths and amenities.

Future plans call for almost six more miles of trail to be built, with the start of construction in mid-April on the first 2-1/2 miles. The first segment is bunded by the Tahlequah Community Fund Special Projects Challenge Grant. TTA is working to fulfill requirements for the Recreational Trails Program Grant to build the second segment of new trails — about three miles long.

"[The second section] will be a cross-country, shared-used trail that will tie the whole outer parameter together," said Jill Herrlein, secretary-treasurer of TTA.

A TTA fundraiser concert featuring Michael Martin Murphey — a musician famous for the song "Wildfire" with the band Rio Grande — is scheduled for Friday night, April 26, during the Red Fern Festival.

"Michael Murphey really enjoyed the festival last year and wanted to do the Friday concert, so he could enjoy the festival with his family," Herrlein said.

Herrlein said the Tau Kappa Epsilon fraternity helped pick up trash along two miles of Welling Road and one mile of 550 Road.

"There was a little trash [after the cleanup] but I think people are seeing it clean and not throwing out as much. People were throwing dog waste bags into the compost toilet, and we had to address that," Herrlein said. "We promote 'pack it in and pack it out,' but we've put in a trash can to accommodate that."

Mike Bingham, president of TTA, said the new training track is for practicing with bikes before they take to the trails. Located behind the parking lot, the oval-shaped track features slanted turns and small hills.

"We have a group that has been using the trails every summer from Camp Lutherhoma, and Camp Director John Busch said he is really excited about the track. His kids can use it to practice body position on their bicycles as they go over humps and bumps, before they actually get out on the trail," Bingham said.

Plans for future improvements call for a permanent restroom. TTA is also looking at getting power to the trail head, Bingham said.

"We've always got maintenance and upkeep on the trail. We'd like to add some benches — at least, along the beginner trail — to let people rest and enjoy the scenery," Bingham said. "We would like to get some regular group rides going out there."

Gravel rides are in the planning stages for autumn.

"Gravel riding is really becoming popular — riding dirt roads in the county. Jill went on a 50-mile ride recently. It would be endorsed and put on by TTA, but it might start from another location with some kind of food truck for the occasion," Bingham said.

A counter tracks how many users are taking advantage of the trails. In February, 668 people used them, and an average of 500 people have visited WRT in the past three months, Bingham said.

Michael Burn and his companions — Haven, Sonny and Ellen Reynolds — found the information about WRT online. They brought along their dogs, Lucy and Millie.

"This is my first time here. It's really interesting. I didn't realize how it cut into the hills so deep. All the rocks are extraordinary," Burn said.

Ellen found the trails well-groomed and shaded, and Haven said they decided to do the Little Brother Trail because of the dogs.

A grandfather, grandson and nephew took advantage of spring break to enjoy the trails. Steve Coppedge, the grandfather, started using WRT a couple of months ago.

Steve's nephew, Levi Coppedge, and grandson Zak Armanyous, joined Steve, as they were out of school for the week.

"I just love this trail. It's really clean and very quiet," Steve said. "I'm usually here midweek. In the past year, I started walking quite a lot — a couple miles a day. So I'm trying to develop a habit."

Pete and Amy Orban and Trent Gleason, from Tulsa and Claremore respectively, walked the trails for the first time.

"I was looking for trails with good wildflowers for this time of year and found WRT on AllTrails," Amy said.

Gleason said the trails were clean and he didn't see a single piece of trash.

"We walked the Wildfire Trail. There are a few stretches that are interesting with its ups and down — not treacherous at all. There were plenty of twists and turns and lots to see," Pete said.

Rachel Allen is hosting her niece, Maggie Allen, during the school break. Rachel said she heard there were some new trails added since she had last been out, and she wanted to share the adventure with Maggie.

"I've known about the trails since they first started — from the guy at Paceline Cyclery and Facebook," Rachel said.

Learn more

The Michael Martin Murphey concert is April 26, 6-10 p.m. at the Chota Center. Tickets can be purchased at www.zeffy.com/en-US/ticketing/c39e7816-12f2-49e3-83c3-99655b14e652. For more information on Welling Ridge Trails, visit www.tahlequahtrails.org. To locate other hiking trails in the area, visit www.alltrails.com.